Aarathi (Kannada)

Aarathi (Kannada: ಆರತಿ) (born 1954 in Aragal, Mysore) is an Indian actress turned director who works

predominantly in Kannada language films. She is best known for her acting prowess in many author backed female centric roles during the 1970s and 1980s. After her self-declared retirement from films in the late 1980s, she returned as director with Mithayi Mane (2005) which met with critical appreciation and also won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Children's Film.

As a lead actress in more than 125 feature films, Aarathi was considered to be among the top league of actresses of her time, having won Filmfare awards four times and the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress several times. She was also nominated as the Member of Legislative Council at the Vidhana parishad making her only the second actress after B. Jayamma

Career

After her first short role in the film Gejje Pooje (1969), Aarathi went on to star as a leading actress in many successful films such as Naagarahaavu, Edakallu Guddada Mele, Bili Hendthi, Dharmasere, Paduvaaralli Pandavaru, Ranganayaki, Hombisilu, Upaasane and Shubhamangala. Apart from Kannada, she also appeared in Tamil films such as Gumasthavin Magal and Telugu films such as Vooriki Upakari.

Aarathi has worked opposite all the leading actors of her time including Dr.Rajkumar, Dr.Vishnuvardhan, Dr.Ambareesh, Srinath, Ananth Nag, Shankar Nag, Kamal Hassan, Rajinikanth and Gangadhar. Her collaboration with the director Puttanna Kanagal produced cult films and they went on to work together in about twelve films.

Personal life

Aarathi does a great deal of charity work. She left the film industry in 1987, and married Chandrashekar Desai Gowdar and moved to the USA where she has lived in ever since. She has two daughters. Her elder daughter, Yashaswini, scripted the story for Mithayi Mane.

Filmography

Mithayi Mane:Mithai Mane is a 2005 Kannada film directed by Aarathi (whose daughter wrote the screenplay). The title (which means "candy house") was inspired by the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel. The film explores the theme of how children would find fulfillment in a candy house they came across in a forest. Actually, the sweetness and fulfillment is illusory; the reality is that there is a witch living inside who uses the appearance of the house to catch children, so she can cook them and eat them.

As actress
1969 Gejje Pooje
1970 Takka! Bitre Sikka!!
1971 Kasturi Nivasa
1971 Pratidhwani
1971 Kulagaurava
1971 Anugraha
1971 Shri Krishna Rukmini Satyabhama
1971 Sipayi Ramu
1971 Nyayave Devaru
1972 Ooriki Upakari
1972 Naagarahaavu
1972 Bangarada Manushya
1972 Bhale Huchcha
1973 Edakallu Guddada Mele
1973 Mane Belagida Sose
1973 Mooroovare Vajragalu
1974 Upaasane
1974 Bhale Bhatta
1974 Gumasthavin Magal
1974 Nanu Baalabeku
1974 Maha Thyaga
1975 Daari Tappida Maga
1975 Bili Hendthi
1975 Katha Sangama
1975 Hosilu Mettida Hennu
1975 Shubhamangala Filmfare
1975 Devara Kannu
1976 Bahaddur Gandu
1976 Punaradatta
1976 Phalithamsha
1976 Aparadhi
1976 Raja Nanna Raja
1976 Baalu Jenu
1976 Premada Kanike
1977 Magiya Kanasu
1977 Kudre Mukha
1977 Anurupa
1977 Pavanaganga
1978 Vasanthalakshmi
1978 Muyyige Muyyi
1978 Anuragha Bandhana
1978 Hombisilu
1978 Maathu Tappada Maga
1978 Paduvarahalli Pandavaru
1978 Premayana
1978 Balu Aparupa Nam Jodi
1979 Na Niruvude Ninagangi
1979 Nentaro Gantu Kallaro
1979 Manini
1979 Dharmasere
1979 Adalu Badalu
1980 Bhakta Siriyala
1980 Anurakthe
1980 Hanthakana Sanchu
1980 Bangarada Jinke
1980 Nyaya Nithi Dharma
1981 Bhagyavantha
1981 Nari Swargakke Dari
1981 Chadurida Chitragalu
1981 Ganesha Mahime
1981 Preetisi Nodu
1981 Edeyuru Siddhalingeshwara
1981 Bhagyada Belaku
1981 Ranganayaki
1981 Thayiya Madilalli
1982 Pedda Gedda
1982 Suvarna Sethuve
1982 Kannu Terasida Hennu
1982 Raja Maharaja
1982 Karmika Kallanalla
1982 Archana
1982 Mava Sose Saval
1982 Hasyarathna Ramakrishna
1982 Nyaya Yellide?
1982 Mullina Gulabi
1982 Parijata
1983 Jaggu
1983 Samarpane
1983 Sididedda Sahodara
1983 Akrosha
1983 Bekkina Kannu
1983 Nyaya Gedditu
1983 Chelisada Sagara
1983 Ananda Sagara
1983 Kalluveene Nudiyitu
1983 Tirugu Bhana
1983 Gandharvagiri
1983 Muttaide Bhagya
1983 Gedda Maga
1983 Premave Balina Belaku
1983 Kranthiyogi Basavanna
1984 Khaidi
1984 Pavitra Prema
1984 Avala Antaranga
1984 Poojaphala
1984 Kaliyuga
1984 Preeti Vatsalya
1984 Hennina Saubhagya
1984 Agnyathavasa
1985 Nee Nakkaga
1985 Lakshmi Kataksha
1985 Kumkuma Thanda Saubhagya
1985 Tulasi Dala
1985 Sati Sakkubai
1985 Swabhimana
1985 Shiva Kotta Saubhagya
1985 Haavu Eni Aata
1986 Seelu Nakshatra
1986 Bettada Thayi
1987 Thaliya Aane